South Asian, Bengali-speaking in Singapore

Introduction / History

The Bengali are considered to be the original inhabitants of the Bengal region of southwest Asia. This territory is divided politically between Bangladesh and West Bengal, a state in India. Bengali is the native language spoken by most of the groups in this region. Most of the Bengali diaspora are from Bangladesh, and they are commonly called Bangladeshis.
Although the Bengalis are primarily classified according to language, their culture remains very diversified. In general, the Bengalis are a proud people, highly ambitious, and always striving for excellence. Although outside influences are being incorporated into their culture, the Bengalis remain very proud of their cultural heritage. They are noted in South Asia for their great literature.
While the vast majority of Bengalis live in Bangladesh and northeast India, there are significant communities in a number of other countries and other parts of India as well. There are Bengali diaspora communities in Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Myanmar, Singapore, and Japan.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Bengalis in Singapore are part of two different communities. There are the Hindu Bengalis, mostly from India. The other are the Muslim Bengalis, most of which are from Bangladesh or India. They had very little contact with one another, especially since there are strong social pressures against intermarriage between the two religious communities. Each of the two has separate social ties. However, in the 1990s, they began to have more social contact when Bengali was made a second language in Singapore, and the two religious communities had to cooperate and use the same social space.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Bengali people in Myanmar are Sunni Muslims who believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.
In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. The often use charms and amulets to help them navigate these spiritual forces.
The Hindus among the Bengalis in Singapore focus on the gods and goddesses of Hinduism. They have a pragmatic approach to spiritual matters, worshipping the deities they believe will help them in practical ways.

What Are Their Needs?

Whatever their religious background, Bengali speakers in Singapore need to hear that Jesus Christ offers them life to the full.

Prayer Points

Pray for the physical and spiritual needs of the Bengalis to be met in Singapore.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among Bengali-speaking communities all over the world so that they will hunger for truth and righteousness.
Pray for Bengali Muslims in Singapore to have the chance to hear and respond to Jesus Christ.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement among Bengalis in Singapore.

Text Source:   Joshua Project